Friday, November 17, 2006

Ohio State vs. Michigan Mania:The Impact of Bo's Death

Update: Obviously, the death of Michigan icon Bo Schembechler spirals the Michigan-Ohio St game into uncertainty and speculation, two things that the online sports world inhales and exhales. What's your take? Many of you have already started commenting. Can you see it impacting the game's result, given that it's in Columbus, not Ann Arbor? There's a lot more to discuss here. Rather than create a new post, let's just vault off the comments section on this post.

Ohio St vs. Michigan Mania, Cont'd: I don't really care about their rivalry. Like most rivalry games, I appreciate the depth and history of mutual loathing, but I'm a fan of neither team, so it's hard to get TOO worked up. Not when the rest of us have our own rivalries to worry about. If you're an OSU or Michigan fan, the rest of us salute your bitter enmity.

However: I care a TON about the consequences of this particular game: A one-game playoff to determine not just (at least) one half of the national game, but to find the team that will be favored to win it all.

It could be OSU-Michigan, it could be Little Sisters of the Poor vs. SouthCrackerState: As long as it's 1 vs. 2 in the final game of the season for each, it's so huge as to arguably earn the title "Game of the Century." (Uh, make that "Regular-Season Game of the Century.")

In our BCS-formulaic world, this is as close as we'll get to a real playoff. Come on: It IS a playoff game, if not actually officially sanctioned by semantics.

That's why it would be so bad for college football if the loser of this game could simply sit back, wait idly for the other teams in the Top 5 to lose over the next two weeks and back their way into the national-title game.

The beauty of this OSU-Michigan game is that we can determine – head-to-head, on the field – which of the two deserves to play for the national title game. One of these teams can EARN it. To reward the loser with a second chance makes a mockery of every fan like me who considers this game a playoff.

71 comments:

But, I still want to point out that the problem with your post is, neither the NCAA nor the BCS have specifically promised a playoff. Michigan and OSU haven't... nobody has.

So, to say the idea makes a mockery of fans expecting this playoff... is actually just a weird statement, to me. In fact, the way you loaded that paragraph and based it on a concept championed almost solely by you... almost makes a mockery of itself.

Not that I'm saying your basic plan is wrong; max(Michigan, OSU) certainly ought to play some team from some other conference, which they haven't played before (I mean, I'll allow ND getting back in, but what would it prove if a Big Ten team beat ND again? Nothing new, is what.).

But, if so happens that the other teams in college football just start losing for the next 2 weeks... what is one to do? 1-loss WVU or Rutgers in the NC game would be a full traveshamockery. Boise State should never get rewarded that much for their ridiculous schedule. Ever. It's quite possible that everybody else ends up with 2 losses. I don't want that, but I'm wondering what you think the BCS could possibly do, except set up the rematch.

I agree with John and was about to make the same point. The winner shouldn't get a rematch but if the other teams keep eliminating each other what choice do you have? Does a 2-loss USC/ND/SEC team deserve a shot over a 1-loss Michigan/OSU team? Nope. A 1 loss or even a 0 loss Big East team doesn't really deserve a shot either.

Oh, here's the crazy thing I wanted to say, that will probably get people involved in tizzies -

If Michigan played WVU, and I were coaching (I say that just because of Lloyd's conservative don't-be-a-dick style, and my annoyance with the Big East), it would probably end up being the first thousand-point victory in the history of football, and especially bowl games.

Michigan would run over, throw over, and generally have its way with WVU's defense, while the M D would pick up 20 or 30 fumbles, easily.

Until now, I hadn't even thought about this when I looked at Ivan Maisel's Rose Bowl projection (WVU v. UM), but, seriously, these teams match up more unevenly than any other BCS contenders I can think of ever.

How can anyone say that Rutgers doesn't deserve their shot if they make it through the season unscathed? They'll have beaten two teams that will finish in the top ten at the end of the season. They would have everything going for them:

Undefeated season? Check.

Strength of schedule? Check.

Big game wins in the national spotlight? Check.

I find it incredibly odd how everyone loves a Cinderella story during March Madness (George Mason anyone?) but can't handle a football National Championship game without a traditional power house.

And I would submit that to get a shot in the National Championship game in football is even tougher than it is in basketball, given then need for an entire season of flawless play as opposed to three short weeks of a hot run.

a) you've been solid lately, but your first post didn't make any sense in any language I've read before.

2) it shouldn't be too tough to decide. We've got this whole system, see.But, seriously - the computers have their numbers, and the polls will adjust by moving down losers (that's all the polls know how to do, and sometimes they can't even do that, *cough* informationally retarded AP voter *cough cough*).So assume the polls stay the same, minus losers, and the computers operate as programmed.

I didn't say undefeated Rutgers wouldn't deserve a shot, even though your Top Ten claims for UL and WVU are based on, when you think about it, losing only to each other+Rutgers, the only good teams they will have played.

I do think Rutgers would be doomed against the Big Ten's best this year, but I think it's absolutely correct to let them play to see how it shakes out.

Unfortunately for everyone, I've finished arguing with myself and made up my mind... West Virginia is gonna beat Rutgers. I don't like West Virginia, and I do like Rutgers. But this is gonna happen.

I wish Rutgers could win the conference, but I know that it's impossible with a loss to WVU, just because of WVU's fucking preseason ranking (specifically, as opposed to UL's and Rutgers's). What bullshit.

ndyanks,from what I can tell, the scenario you are doubting taking place in the SEC is impossible for an entirely different reason; LSU could beat Ark, but Ark still goes to the SEC title game with a win tomorrow over miss st (on account of two LSU losses in the SEC). IF LSU beats Ark, Ark beating UF is a pretty good possibility.

And John, real cute about the wvu-um potential match-up. Just curious, has um played anyone with a semblance of the running attack the wvu possesses? It would be a sexy game to watch, since there really is no team in the country as good as wvu for providing big offensive plays on BOTH sides of the ball. If michigan scored a thousand, it would be by beating WVU's 998, in the hundredth overtime...

Remember, it's not like Ali ONLY fought Frazier, even if he was #2. Worthy challengers step up to fight the champ, even if sometimes you think they're #4 or #6 in the rankings. And if Leon Spinks wins, he's the champ.

I seriously doubt that Michigan could score a thousand points in a game, let alone win by such a figure, even if John was their coach. The fact of the matter is that they would have to score more than two touchdowns a minute for the entire game just to reach 1,000. Given the time constraints, Michigan wouldn't be able to put up that amount against a high school team. I'm certainly no fan of WVU or the Big East, but I don't see why some of you feel the need to bash them simply because they play in a conference that you feel is inferior to the one your team happens to play in. I could be wrong, but I don't think that the current rules disqualify teams that don't play in a "major" conference. It makes more sense to settle these kinds of issues on the field, anyway (and they most likely will be, in the next month and a half).

Michigan in a rout, now. Remember when the Skins went to the Meadowlands last year after Wellington Mara died? 36-0. I don't think it'll be that bad, but I expect Michigan's D to completely shut down Ohio State now. 20-3 or something along those lines.

I agree with most of the comments so far about Bo. I really don't see Michigan losing now. They are going to play this game for Bo and no one will be able to stop them. As far as Bo and Woody watching together.....yeah.....right......

There are two ways to look at the emotional impact of Bo's passing on the teams for this game.

One the one hand, Bo was the unquestioned face of Michigan Football for over twenty years. Losing him could prove to be the emotional boost Michigan needs to get over the top and take down Ohio State. And, for what it's worth, if this game were being played in The Big House, the outcome would now be a foregone conclusion.

The other possibility is that the emotions act as a burden, much like they did for the Celtics on opening night this season just after the death of Red Auerbach. Now, admittedly, the Celtics are a pretty lousy team, and there was about a 75% shot that they were going to lose that game with or without Red being gone. But the extra added pressure of "Win it for Red" just swept their legs out from underneath them.

The same thing could easily happen to Michigan tomorrow, so don't go handing them the win immediately. We should know after the first quarter - if they're flying around looking to kill someone on defense (poor choice of words, sorry), then they're extra-amped for the game. But if they're being pushed all around the field, allowing big play after big play, and not executing the most basic plays on offense, they're in trouble.

Sorry, I rambled a little bit there. We'll call it my seven cents for the day.

Lenny you obviously do not what type of relationship that Woody and Bo had. They were extremely close, Bo played for Woody and later was an assistant for Woody. It is not hard to imagine that they will be watching the game together in the Great Living Room in the Sky.

As far as regular season game of the century..could be argued...but unless it plays out on the field that way I think that title still belongs to the 1966 ND-MSU game.

Ranked 1 and 2...both undefeated played late in the season on Nov 19th...ends in a 10-10 tie...now that was a situation where there should have been a rematch...sigh...the days when MSU had a football program....

But OSU-UM 1-2 matchup...definitely the regular season game of the ESPN era...of the century...remains to be seen.

I don't think this will have as much of an impact on the Michigan players as one would think. More on the fans...and on Lloyd Carr.

I think this will do the exact opposite of a blowout...This just turned into a 'field goal with :02 seconds' type of game. Michigan will be sharp. But this has no effect on Ohio State, who will be equally sharp.

Stephen fuck that 1966 MSU v. ND game for game of the last century. Hands down the game of the previous century was Nebraska v. Oklahoma in 1971. Played the day after Thanksgiving (these two schools should still play the day after Thanksgiving I hate the Big 12 for ruining this rivalry). Score was 35-31 which meant a lot of offense had a transcendent play with Johnny Rodgers punt return and Nebraska needed a last second drive to win the game. I will take that game and the Miami v. BC game as the top 2 games of the last century.

Eric, I just read the stories on most of the news websites and cnn is the only one that has the correct record for the Bo v. Woody games. You would think with a passing of a legend like Schembechler that they would get their facts right before they sent them over the internet that is just ridiculous.

startvinceyoung:Thanks for the info. I went to ESPN and SI and assumed if those two don't fact-check sports numbers, surely no one else will. Even the Detroit News got it wrong. I'm glad to hear that at least one news agency has it right, and my faith in CNN is renewed.

The picture on the front page of espn.com is great. That is just a classic Bo picture with that smirk on his face. I was only 2 when Woody was fired at OSU so I do not remember their rivalry but growing up in Ohio with a family that are rabid Buckeye fans there was always a respect for Bo because of his roots to Ohio St. and Woody.

Bo was one of the great personalities of my childhood and I have great respect and admiration for the him.

My point is that Bo is not any more special than anyone else in the world. I'm sure he was a good enough guy, but good people die every day, so to me Bo in particular dying in comparison to anyone else is not a big deal.

I've come across people like you, Steve, and I must say that I feel sorry for you. If you can't understand why someone like Bo Schembechler was loved and respected by many, and will be missed, there is nothing any of us can say that will change your mind. I have no ties to Michigan, but I can understand the pain of their fans and those who appreciate the program's history.

In other news, the Dead Schembechler's myspace page is still active and they have decided to end their run and give all proceeds from tonight's show to charity. Very gracious of them, methinks.

steve:If you said what you said in back-country Mongolia, I'm sure everyone around you would nod approvingly. The factor you overlooked is that there are people that care about the state of Michigan, the University of Michigan, Michigan football, Big Ten football, and a bunch of other things that cannot help but be touched by Bo's life's work in some way or another. Those people have every right to care about him, even if they never met him. This is made easier by the seeming fact that he was an all-around really nice guy.

I hear the gist of what you're saying, and there is a kernel of truth there. Where you trail off into lunacy is where you suggest that basically, there isn't enough time and energy to care about everyone so you shouldn't care about anyone.

Actually Eric, you do more or less understand what I was trying to say. I have a little bit of difficulty in saying what I mean without being crass is all. It's not so much not caring about Bo as it is the fact people seem to have this idea that we should care more about a celebrity death than my neighbor down the street who I don't really even know. I also personally don't believe people truly 'die' so that also affects my belief system.

Dunno... I kind of agree with Steve here. I was 13 years old when Schembechler stopped coaching. Read: I was 4 years away from even *going* to college. 13 year-olds don't really care that much about college ball. Adults do. Alums do.

Now, 17 years later, I can appreciate what he did for UM-OSU. But, seriously, what's the great legacy outside of the midwest? He never won a national title. He was a good guy, an approachable demi-god in Michigan, but... I don't think the 95% of the country that doesn't give a rat's ass about Michigan-OSU, or Big Ten football in general, is going to lose much sleep over his passing.

Obvious UM/OSU/Big Ten fans are going to bitch, but outside of a 5-minute clip on ESPN over the weekend, this isn't a national story, and within a week, no one will be talking about it at all. That is, of course, unless Michigan wins the game. In that case, it'll be some big "We dedicate the rest of this season to Bo" thing. If they lose? Shit. You won't hear about if you live anywhere near either coast.

I don't think you have to be a Big 10 person to care about the passing of a man like Bo. Just like you don't have to be a Big 10 person to watch a the damn good football game we are about to see. We all have our legends/heroes/icons and when one of them is lost it is a sad day.

And I watched/cared about college football when I was 13, but maybe that's just my Texas upbringing.

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